LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Anson Winder #20 of the Brigham Young Cougars fouls Cole Dickerson #25 of the San Francisco Dons during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brigham Young won 79-77 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

USF came oh so close to making the WCC tournament championship game, and Rex Walters still wanted his Dons to experience the atmosphere.

So after USF lost 79-77 in overtime to BYU in a semifinal Monday night, Walters said he would have his players at the Orleans Arena on Tuesday to see the second-seeded Cougars and top-seeded Gonzaga play for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"I want our guys to watch that and aspire for more," Walters said. "We talk about 'Aim Higher.' We aspire ... to be in that game and understand what that game is like. We feel like we have a good team (coming) back."

The Dons' lone senior, Cole Dickerson, led USF on Monday with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

BYU was up by eight with six minutes to go in regulation. The Dons went on an 8-0 run capped by a Mark Tollefsen three-pointer that made it 64-64 with 3:20 left. It remained 64-64 at the end of the second half.

USF trailed by as many as six in overtime, but still had a chance to prevail. Down two with eight ticks left, point guard Avry Holmes brought the ball upcourt. He lost it momentarily in the frontcourt, regained possession and then had a decent look at a three-pointer from the right corner.

The shot hit off iron, Tim Derksen's off-balance, desperation tip didn't have a chance, and the Dons (21-11) had to deal with a third loss to the Cougars this season.

On the court, Walters made a point to console Holmes. In the postgame news conference, Walters praised the sophomore who was thrust into the starting point-guard job after Cody Doolin left the team in November.

Walters believes Holmes will inherit the leadership role from Dickerson.

"Avry gets to take it and kind of pass the torch," Walters said. "Be our leader. Be our point guard. I think he's got a chance to be the best point guard in our league. I'm not shy about saying that."

Walters, Holmes and the rest of the Dons will learn their postseason assignment Sunday. With an RPI of 64 as of Monday morning, USF is a good bet - but not a lock - to play in the NIT.